WEST ONE
By CONRAD SUTCLIFFE
HARRY Soloman struck an unbeaten 67 as Ivybridge chased to win against Plymouth 2nd XI.
Teddy Haffenden top scored for Plymouth with 50 exactly in their 45-over total of 223 for nine.
Ollie Parsons (24) put on 65 for the first wicket with Haffenden, which was the best stand of the innings. Jack Hughes (30) together with skipper Steve Luffman (25) and Phil Taylor (25) all chipped in.
George Berry (3-40) and young spinner Jacob Kopparambil (3-35) shared the main wicket-taking duties. Skipper Huxtable said of Kopparambil: “He
was quality once again.”
Josh Zimmerman (73) and Adam Huxtable (21) got the chase started and Solomon finished it off with three overs to go and two wickets in hand. Plymouth leg-spinner John Kerridge (5-33) made it tricky at times for Ivybridge.
The challenge of the chase was not lost on Ivybridge skipper Huxtable, who said: “Plymouth batted really well on a tough pitch to put a really good score on the board.
"We batted very well up top with Josh Zimmerman showing his class with a quality knock at the top of the order.
“And it was great to see Harry Solomon there at the end to finish the game with a great 67 not out!
“Fair play to Plymouth they made us work for every last run.”
Opposite number Luffman said the game was won and lost in the first 10 overs of the Ivybridge reply.
“A very good 50 from 15 year old Teddy Haffenden and plenty of players chipping in with 20 meant we had a score we felt we could defend,” said Luffman.
“Ivybridge took the game away from us with a lightning start which meant they were 100 for one after 10 overs.
“Our spinners dragged us back into the game – particularly John Kerridge – but an excellent knock from Harry Solomon was just enough to see them home.
“Overall Ivybridge deserved the win but I was pleased that our youngsters stood up made a real fight of it.”
PLYMSTOCK skipper James Nicholls said there could be no excuses for his side’s 97-run defeat by Cornwood 2nd XI in West Two.
It seemed Plymstock had done the hard bit by holding Cornwood to 176 all out – Rhys Williams taking four for 26 after late summons to join the team and Billy Gibson grabing three for 41.
Cirian Gray (31) and Luke Richardson (36) were Cornwood’s main run getters.
Plymstock plunged to 79 all out with Alex Stevenson (20) the only batter to make much of an impression.
Matt Tamsett’s left-arm spin claimed four Plymstock wickets for 31 runs and there was a three-wicket return for Andy Bees.
Said Nicholls: “The simple answer is we were not good enough... our batting let us down again and it is something we really need to get a hold on over the winter.
“I thought our bowlers stuck at it really well and will be an handful next year, but we will not win many games batting like that.
“We know where we need to improve and this is a reminder of what we need to do before the league starts next season.”
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